Disposable single-use bedpan arrangement



Dec. 15, 1970 H. s. KUHN DISPOSABLE SINGLE-USE BEDPAN ARRANGEMENT FiledFeb. 16, 1968 II II I I'll II United States Patent 3,546,717 DISPOSABLESINGLE-USE BEDIAN ARRANGEMENT Henry S. Kuhn, 609 Austin, Park Ridge,Ill. 60068 Filed Feb. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 706,051 lint. Cl. A61g 9/00 US.Cl. 4113 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable, single-usebed pan constructed from material which is impervious to air and water,the pan comprising a bottom portion and a hollow inflatable side wallportion, which may be stored in folded flat relation and subsequentlyinflated at the time of use. The structure is so constructed that by useof suitable means it may be inflated from the oxygen line present in theusual hospital room and is further cooperable with means associated witha toilet bowl structure or the like for rupturing the bottom of the panwhile over such a bowl to permit emptying of the contents, the toiletstructure preferably also being provided with means for rupturing theinflated portion of the device, following emptying thereof, whereby thesame may be discarded in a deflated condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to a bed panstructure designed for a single usage following which it may be readilydisposed of.

The bed pan problem, particularly in hospitals and the like has receivedconsiderable attention over the years in an effort to eliminate some ofthe difficulties and objections in connection with the use of the commonrigid bed pan of metal or plastic. Pans of such type have beenobjectionable both from the patients standpoint as well as the hospitalor other agency.

From the users standpoint, such pans were rigid and unyielding to thebody and thus uncomfortable, were cold to the touch, required thepatient to be lifted unto the pan as well as off and their use usuallyis one of the most dis-- agreeable aspects of hospitalization.

Such bed pans were equally objectionable to the hospital as theyrequired cleaning and sterilization, in most cases packaging in aplastic bag, occupied considerable space in storage, requiredconsiderable physical effort in getting the patient onto the pan andcreated personnel problems in view of the disagreeable conditionsattendant to emptying and cleaning of such pans.

The present invention therefore is directed to a method and a bed panconstruction which eliminates these objections and disadvantages, thepan being so designed and sufficiently inexpensive that it may beutilized only once and thereafter disposed of, thereby eliminatingcleaning and reuse.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a bed panconstruction which may be fabricated from sheet material andtransported, stored and generally handled prior to use in a flatdeflated condition, or folded into a very small package, thus permittingstorage of a relatively large number of such devices in the spacenormally occupied by one rigid bed pan, thereby reducing storage spaceto but a fraction of that required with the usual rigid bed pan.Furthermore, being inflatable, the deflated device may be placed under apatient with a minimum of effort, thereby relieving personnel ofrelatively heavy and difficult lifting as well as contributingmaterially to the comfort of the patient when being placed upon the pan.At the same time, upon inflation of the pan the patient is automaticallylifted above the bottom of the pan and while using the pan hassubstantially all the comfort of an air cushion. Consequently sliding ofthe pan relative to the bed sheet is also eliminated, reducing thepossibility of tearing such sheet etc.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a inflatablebed pan which is designed for cooperation with novel means forpermitting its inflation from the oxygen line which is usually presentin the average hospital room, but which, at the same time, is capable ofbeing inflated by a small manually operated pump of the bellows type,and which in an emergency can be directly inflated manually prior to itspositioning under the patient.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a bed panwhich is provided with novel means for emptying the same as well aseffecting a deflation of the device following emptying.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a bed panwhich is exceedingly simple in construction, capable of being fabricatedcompletely from sheet stock whereby the cost of manufacture issufiiciently low to make a single use of the device economicallyfeasible.

Many other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from the disclosure herein given.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates the productionof an inflatable bed pan formed from sheet material in which the sidewalls are of tubular formation and adapted to be inflated with air orsuitable gas to form a generally doughnut-like structure to which thebottom wall is attached. The inflated structure possesses adequaterigidity for the purposes to which it is to be subjected but at the sametime permits the device to be folded more or less along its longitudinalaxis bringing the upper edges of the doughnut-like structure incontacting relation to, in effect, seal the container thus formed,thereby facilitating transporting and handling of the used structureprior to emptying. The bottom of the pan is so constructed that it maybe engaged with cooperable means mounted on the toilet bowl or otherreceptacle in which the pan is to be emptied and, by relative movementof the pan with respect thereto, a rupturing of the bottom wall may beeffected to permit discharge of the contents into the receivingreceptacle. A part of the latter may also be provided with means forrupturing the inflated portion of the device following, emptyingthereof, whereby disposal can be effected in a deflated condition.

The inflatable portion of the device is provided with a suitable fillervalve structure which is cooperable with novel means forming a part of avalve discharge line adapted to be connected to the oxygen supply linepresent in the usual hospital room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein likereference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bed pan embodying the invention,illustrating the same in deflated condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the device uponinflation, as well as means for inflating the same;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line III-III ofFIG. 1; 1

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the bottom of the structure takenapproximately on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inflated pan, following use thereof,illustrating how the structure may be folded back upon itself to closethe same for transporting and handling; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through an inflated panillustrating how the same may be emptied over a toilet bowl or the like.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the referencenumeral 1 indicates generally a pan structure comprising a bottomportion 2 and a tubular side wall portion 3 of generally doughnutlikeconfiguration, which is slightly elongated from front to rear, with thefront portion 4 having a shorter radius of curvature than the rearportion 5. The structure preferably is fabricated from sheet materialssuch as sheet plastic capable of receiving air or gas under pressurewhereby the same may be inflated to the condition illustrated in FIGS. 1and 5. Normally a gas pressure of 12 to 15 ounces per square inch isadequate for this purpose.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the embodiment therein illustrated isconstructed from three individual pieces of material, the bottom 2comprising one piece and the wall structure comprising two like pieces 6and 7 respectively which initially have a planar shape as illustrated inFIG. 2. The sections 6 and 7 are suitably secured in sealed relationalong their inner edges by thermal welding or other suitable means toform a seam 8 and in like manner the outer edges of the panel 6 and 7,as well as the adjacent pheripheral portion of the bottom 2 aresimilarly secured together as indicated at 9. Secured to the upper panel6 is a filler valve structure designated generally by the numeral 10which is illustrated as being constructed in the form of a check valve,comprising a housing portion 11 of generally dome-like configurationterminating at its upper end in a tubular neck portion 1'2, and having acoaxially disposed inwardly extending tubular portion 113 closed at itsinner end by a wall 14. A transversely extending slit 14 is formed inthe portion 13 adjacent the wall 14, the slit extending partiallythrough the tubular structure with enough material being left unseveredto insure retention of the bottom wall 14 in operative position, asillustrated. However, when air is forced into the valve the bottomportion may pivot inwardly with the unsevered portion functioning as ahinge, to permit the ingress of air or gas and when fully inflated theinternal pressure will maintain the opposed portions of the structure atthe slit 14 in airtight engagement to prevent discharge through thevalve. The specific details of the valve structure with respect to itssealing function form no part of the present invention, the specificinstruction illustrated merely being presented by way of example. Theportion 12 of the valve member is constructed for cooperation with afitting 16 illustrated as being generally cylindrical and terminating atits lower end in a flange 16' having rounded peripheral edges. Theinternal diameter of the neck portion 12 and the fitting 16 are sodimensioned and proportioned that the neck 12 possesses sufficientresiliency to receive the flanged end of the fitting and create a goodseal therebetween.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fitting 16 is adapted to be attached to avalve structure 17, illustrated as being generally of pistol shape,having a manually actuatable valve button 18 and operatively connectedto a flexible line 19, between which is interposed a suitable reducingvalve 21, the opposite end of the tubing 19 being provided with afitting 22 suitable for connection to the usual type of couplingemployed on oxygen supply lines which are present in all modern hospitalrooms. While the inflated pressure of the bed pan will depend to acertain extent on the materials employed in its fabrication, it wouldappear that in most cases approximately twelve to fifteen ounces persquare inch is adequate to provide a sufiicient firmness and thus formretention of the structure when in use and at the same time providemaximum comfort for the user. Consequently, for the majority of theapplications, the reducing valve 21, which may be any suitableconstruction, preferably is designed to reduce the discharge pressure atthe fitting 13 to the desired maximum.

The present invention also makes provision for readily emptying the pan,following the use thereof, with a minimum of difficulty andinconvenience, as Well as reduce the disagreeableness associated withhandling and emptying of the pan. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4,extending longitudinally along the bottom 2, from rear to front is arelatively narrow strip '23 defined by a pair of parallel lines 24 ofreduced thickness, forming weakened lines along which the panel 23 maybe severed from the remainder of the bottom 2. Secured to the portion23, closely adjacent to the rear end thereof, is a tab or flap 25 ofgenerally ring-shape which is provided with a mounting portion 26,secured to the portion 23 by a suitable seam or Weld 27. Thus bygripping the tab 25 and pulling downwardly toward the end 4 of the pan,the bottom '2 may be ruptured along the lines 24 to form an elongatedslot in the bottom through which the pan may be emptied, as for exampleover a toilet bowl or the like as illustrated in FIG. 6. The weakeningalong lines 24 in the bottom 2 should be such that the bottom has morethan adequate strength to retain any contents which it may receive innormal usage but at the same time will rupture relatively easy whenforce is suitably applied to the tab 25.

Obviously a bed pan construction in accordance with the presentinvention may, in non-inflated condition, be readily folded into a verycompact flat mass of approximately 4 by 4 inches and less than /2 inchthick (with the exception of the filler valve 11). Consequently arelatively large number of such devices may be stored in the spacenormally occupied by one stored bed pan of the usual rigid construction.Thus a considerable saving in storage space may be achieved.

When such a pan is to be used, it is unnecessary to lift the patientonto the pan as is necessary in the usual case, the present panpreferably being disposed in noninflated condition underneath thepatient, which may be readily accomplished by merely rolling the patienton his side. When the patient is in proper position on the device, itmay be inflated, either by means of a small inexpensive air pump, forexample a foot actuated pump of the bellows type or if a hospital use isinvolved, it may be readily inflated with oxygen from the oxygen lineprovided in all modern hospital rooms, utilizing the tubing and valvestructure previously described. In this case the tubing 19 is coupled tothe oxygen fitting provided and oxygen admitted into the hose followingwhich the fitting 13 is inserted into the bore 16, of the neck 12 of thefiller valve and the button 18 depressed which will admit oxygen untilthe pressure determined by the reducing valve 21 has been reached. Thefitting 16 may then be withdrawn from the filler valve, the latter, inthe embodiment illustrated, being provided with a small tab or flap 28which may be manually grasped to facilitate the withdrawal operation.Following usage, the patient may be removed from the pan and the lattercarried to the point of disposal. The present invention facilitates suchhandling as the pan is sufliciently flexible that it may belongitudinally foldedupon itself to a position similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 5, in which the top faces of the folded halves ofthe panel 6 are brought into engagement and thus form an effectiveclosure or seal for the pan during such handling.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, to facilitate rupturing of the bottom 2 whenit is desired to empty the pan, as for example over the toilet bowl 31,illustrated in FIG. 6, there may be provided a small hook member 32which is mounted on a small sheet 33 of adhesively backed material whichsheet is thereby adhesively secured to the top surface of the bowl 31 atthe forward or front edge thereof, with the hook portion 32 directedoutwardly. To utilize this structure for effecting a rupturing of thebottom 2, the pan is initially disposed with the rear portion overlyingthe hook 32. The tab 25 may then be readily engaged with the hook 32 bya slight movement of the pan in a rearward direction with respect to thebowl 31 and by a subsequent sharp movement of the pan rearwardly thebottom will readily rupture along the line 24 so that when the pan isdisposed directly above the toilet bowl 31 the bottom 2 will be rupturedalong at least approximately half of its front to rear length, which ismore than adequate to permit emptying of the pan. Mounted on theunderside of the toilet seat 34 is a sharp pointed projection 35 which,for example, may be carried by an adhesively backed sheet 36, similar tothe sheet 33 whereby the projection 35 will be firmly mount ed on theseat. It will be apparent that following emptying of the pan into thebowl 31 the latter may be moved sharply rearwardly into engagement withthe projection 35 to effect a rupturing of the inflated side wallstructure of the device permitting the same to become deflated in whichcondition the pan may be readily disposed of, again occupying a verysmall volume.

It will be apparent from the above disclosure that I have provided a bedpan which eliminates the vast majority of the disadvantages andobjections to the usual type of bed pan, eliminating the necessity oflifting a person on to the pan, providing maximum comfort, equivalent toan air cushion, while being used, eliminates as much as possible thedisagreeable conditions surrounding handling of the pan following usageprior to emptying, facilitates emptying with a minimum of manualhandling, and provided for deflating in a very simple manner.Furthermore, the invention enables the device to be in flated from theusual oxygen fitting provided in hospital rooms and with the featuressurrounding handling and emptying, considerably reduces the objectionsof personnel required to perform the handling and emptying function.Likewise, the invention eliminates the subsequent rehandling of theusual pan with respect to rinsing, sterilization, packing in a plasticbag or the like, and a considerable reduction in storage space, all ofwhich are of particular importance to those in hospital administration.

It will also be apparent that the simplicity of construction as well asthe fact that expensive material are not required, readily makes thesingle use and subsequent disposal of the pan both practical andeconomical.

Having thus described my invention will be understood that variationsand modification may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the novel concepts of my invention.

We claim:

1. A disposable bed pan primarily intended for single use comprising atubular envelope of ring-shape configuration, capable of being inflatedto form a generally doughnut-shaped body, with a bottom wall extendingacross the central opening of said body, said tubular envelopecomprising two like, ring-shaped halves of flat sheet material, and saidbottom wall comprising a flat sheet of like material having a peripheralconfiguration of the same size and shape as the outer peripheralconfiguration of said halves, the latter being superimposed one upon theother with their outer peripheral edges in alignment and having theiropposed inner faces joined in sealed relation along a continuous lineadjacent said aligned inner peripheral edges, said halves beingsuperimposed on said bottom with their outer peripheral edges and theouter peripheral edge of said bottom in alignment, forming a flat stack,the opposed inner faces of said halves and the opposed inner faces ofsaid bottom and the adjacent half being respectively joined sealedrelation along a common continuous line adjacent said aligned outerperipheral edges.

2. A disposable bed pan according to claim 1, wherein said tubularenvelope is adapted to be inflated from an external source of gas underpressure, comprising in further combination valve means constructed inthe form of a check valve, having a body portion carried by said bodyand providing a passageway from the interior of said body to theexterior thereof, said body portion being constructed to permitinsertion and detachable retention of a gas-supply fitting in the outerend of said passageway,

and a valve element adjacent the inner end of said passagewayconstructed to permit the entry of gas through said passageway into saidenvelope and seal said passageway in response to pressure upon the innersurface of said valve element.

3. A disposable bed pan according to claim 1, wherein thecross-sectional dimensions of said body, and the thickness andcharacteristics of said sheet material are such that the structure, wheninflated, may be folded substantially along the longitudinally centerline thereof to bring the portions of the body at each side thereof incontact substantially throughout their length and thereby temporarilysubstantially seal the contents thereof.

4. A disposable bed pan according to claim 1, wherein said bottom wallis provided with means for effecting a rupture of the bottom wall tofacilitate emptying of the pan.

5. A disposable bed pan according to claim 4, wherein said means forfacilitating emptying the pan comprises a weakened portion, operative tolocalize such rupturing to a predetermined area, and means disposed atsuch weakened portion, at the exterior side of said bottom wall, whichupon the application of force thereto is operative to effect such arupturing of the bottom wall.

6. A disposable bed pan primarily intended for single use comprising atubular envelope of ring-shaped configuration, capable of being inflatedto form a generally doughnut-shaped body, a bottom wall extending acrossthe central opening of said body and having its peripheral edges securedthereto in fluid-tight relation, valve means on said body, operativeupon inflation of said body to retain the same in inflated condition,said bottom wall being provided with means for effecting a rupture ofthe bottom wall to facilitate emptying of the pan comprising a weakenedportion in the form of a relatively narrow elongated panel extendingalong the longitudinal centerline of the bottom wall, operative tolocalize such rup turing to a predetermined area, and a tab secured toone end of said panel and extending outwardly therefrom at the exteriorside of said bottom wall, which upon the application of force thereto isoperative to effect rupturing of the bottom wall at said panel.

7. A disposable bed pan according to claim 6, comprising in furthercombination, a hook member constructed for mounting on a receptacle intowhich said pan is to be emptied, adjacent the front edge thereof, saidtab having an opening therein for the reception of said hook member.

8. A disposable bed pan according to claim 7, comprising in furthercombination, an envelope-rupturing mem ber constructed for mounting onsuch a receptacle adjacent the rear edge thereof for engagement withsaid body to effect a rupture and deflation thereof.

9. In a disposable bed pan arrangement primarily intended for singleuse, the combination of a bed pan structure, constructed for use wheninflated, and provided with a passageway through which the same may beinflated, valve means adjacent the inner end of said passagewayconstructed in the form of a check valve operable to permit entry of gasunder pressure into said structure and retain the pan in inflatedcondition in response to internal gas pressure upon said valve means,and conduit means constructed at one end for connection to a supply lineof an inflating fluid, valve means connected to the opposite end of saidconduit, said valve means terminating in a fitting detachably insertablein said valve passageway in fluid-tight relation, and pressure reductionmeans operatively disposed in the fluid path to said fitting forlimiting the maximum pressure thereat and thus within the inflated bedpan structure.

10. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 9, wherein saidfitting is of generally tubular construction and terminates at its freeend in a head portion of greater diameter than that of the adjacenttubular portion thereof, said valve passageway having an effectivediameter less than that of said head portion and greater than that ofthe remainder of the insertable part of said fitting.

11. A disposable bed pan arrangement primarily intended for single use,comprising an inflatable bed pan structure formed from sheet material,said structure constructed for use when inflated and having a relativelyeasily rupturable noninflatable Wall, and following use thereof to beemptied in a receiving receptacle, and means adapted to be associatedwith such a receptacle, engageable with said bed pan structure foreffecting a rupture of a noninflated wall thereof to permit emptying insuch a receptacle.

12. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 11, comprisingin further combination means adapted to be associated with such areceptacle for effecting a deflation of said bed pan structure followingemptying thereof.

13. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 12, wherein saiddeflation means is mounted on a part associated with the receivingreceptacle adjacent the rear edge thereof, operative to be engaged withsaid bed pan structure by movement of the latter, following emptyingthereof, toward and into engagement with said deflation means.

14. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 11, wherein saidrupturing means is mounted on the receiving receptacle adjacent thefront edge thereof and engageable with cooperable means on said pan, op-

erative to effect a rupturing of said bottom wall by move- 30 ment ofsaid pan, relative to said receptacle, into a position thereover.

15. A disposable bed pan arrangement according to claim 14, comprisingin further combination, means 8 mounted on a part associated with thereceiving receptacle adjacent the rear edge thereof, operative to beengaged with said bed pan structure by movement of the latter, followingemptying thereof, toward and into engagement with said deflation means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 399,508 3/1889 Eggers 4-ll3435,058 8/1890 Freund 41l3 750,103 1/1904 Eggers 4 113 959,379 5/1910Otis l113 1,132,056 3/1915 Wesley 4113 1,382,593 6/1921 Arata et a1.4113 2,246,205 6/1941 Gray 4-113 2,503,284 4/1950 Mason 4-113 2,671,2263/1954 Lychenheim 4113X 3,013,279 12/1961 Neudigate 41 13 1,362,75112/1920 Snyder 4113 1,783,640 12/1930 Chambers 4-1 13 1,981,666 11/1934Ridley 4112UX 2,466,142 4/ 1949 Yost 41 13 2,714,212 8/1955 Reed 4113X2,750,600 6/1956 MacDonald 4-1 13 3,008,153 11/1961 Coulter 4-1 13X3,061,840 11/1962 Presseisen 4113 FOREIGN PATENTS 249,325 3/1926 GreatBritain 4-113 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, AssistantExaminer

